Paperless district: The Marion County School District is beginning to digitize all 9 million-plus of its paper records to gradually convert to a paperless organization. Sometime in 2018, the district expects to stop creating paper documents and begin electronic enrollment. The project will cost about $800,000 and will take several years. Ocala Star Banner.
Charter growth slows: While charter school enrollment in Florida continued to grow in the 2016-2017 school year, the growth rate continues to be well below what it was in the period between 2010 and 2014. Almost 287,000 students attended charter schools last year, up 6.2 percent over the 270,151 last year. Between 2010 and 2014, the growth rate averaged 13.7 percent a year. redefinED. In Hillsborough County, the percentage of students in charter schools has edged up to the state average of about 10 percent, with 11 new charter schools opening next month. Tampa Bay Times.
Searching students: The Citrus County School Board approves a policy to search every student at the Citrus County Renaissance Center every day. First, students will undergo a metal detector wand search for weapons. Then they'll empty their pockets, untuck their shirts and take off shoes. Finally, each student's arms, legs and feet will be checked for drugs or other contraband. The school enrolls students with behavior problems. Citrus County Chronicle.
H.B. 7069 lawsuit: Miami-Dade County School Board members instruct their attorney to draft a plan to join other districts in suing the state over the new education law, H.B. 7069. The suit would target several parts of the bill the district thinks are unconstitutional, such as forcing districts to share local tax money with charter schools while limiting boards' authority over those schools, and restricting how districts can spend federal dollars awarded to students in low-income schools. Five districts have committed to the proposed lawsuit: Broward, St. Lucie, Bay, Lee and Volusia counties. Miami Herald. The Manatee County School Board supports the move by several districts to sue the state over the new education law, but stopped short of setting aside any money for the effort. Board members say they will revisit the idea of pledging money once a suit is actually filed. Bradenton Herald.
